Chargers release kicker Kaeding

The Sports Xchange

The SportsXchange•October 31, 2012

The San Diego Chargers gave kicker Nate Kaeding $1.2 million to walk away. The nine-year veteran received termination pay Tuesday when he passed a physical and the team released him. Kaeding is now an unrestricted free agent. Kaeding sustained a groin injury in practice Sept. 28, causing him to miss the team's past four games. The Chargers signed Nick Novak to replace him, and Novak has gone 7-for-8 on field-goal attempts. Kaeding, 30, has made 87 percent of his career field-goal attempts (180 of 207), the best rate in NFL history among kickers with at least 100 regular-season attempts. He was 7-for-7 this year before getting hurt. His playoff results aren't as impressive, as Kaeding is just 8-for-15 on postseason field-goal tries. In 2011, Kaeding tore a knee ligament on the opening kickoff of the season, and he sat out the remainder of the year. Novak filled in for Kaeding last year, too, and he made 27 of 34 field-goal attempts, including four of seven from 50-plus yards.